Is it possible to create a shipment number later in the sales order process (not at sales order entr

We want to create a shipment later in the sales order process. We are on E92 and using the standard distribution modules plus Transportation and Apparel Management. This should solve a number of problems. It would allow use of PCW61 Mass Update of Style Items. By aligning the sales order records for date, carrier & mode of transport fields there would only be one shipment number for all the lines at a given status in the activity rules. When the shipment is created at order entry and backorder release we get several shipments and have to consolidate manually. I have